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Zen in the Art of Archery

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Zen in the Art of Archery

By: Eugen Herrigel
Narrated by: Ralph Blum
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About this listen

This intriguing, influential work of literature - an outstanding way to experience Zen - is now available in audio.

It is almost impossible to understand Zen by studying it as you would other intellectual pursuits. The best way to understand Zen is, simply, to Zen. This is what author Eugen Herrigel allows us to do by sharing his own fascinating journey toward a comprehension of this illuminating philosophy.

In Japan, an art such as archery is not practiced solely for utilitarian purposes such as learning to hit targets. Archery is also meant to train the mind and bring it into contact with the ultimate reality. If one really wishes to be master of an art, technical knowledge of it is not enough. One has to transcend technique so that the art becomes an “artless art” growing out of the unconsciousness. In this way, as the author simply, clearly demonstrates, archery becomes a path to greater understanding and enlightenment.

©1971 Eugen Herrigel (P)2005 Macmillan Audio Buddhism Philosophy Archery Hunting
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This audiobook is a spiritual memoir with a lot of deep Zen practices and plants the seeds of thought. I liked the narration and his tempered pace. Listening to this audiobook reminded me of guided meditation and I found it very easy listening, if not a tad short. Overall, loved it.

A lesson in Zen...

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Not just one of the greatest books on Zen but also one of the easiest to understand. The Insights in this book transcend all art forms to express something of the deeper truth in the heart of us all.

After this you should also read Zen Mind Beginners Mind... a deeper exploration of Zen philosophy.

The performance however, doesn't quite capture the nuance of the writen word, esp when it comes to the dialogue of the teacher. That's not a deal breaker though, just remember to listen through the voice.

uniquely powerful.

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Performance: Mostly OK, but frankly, depiction of the master’s voice is borderline racist.

The book itself: This book won’t teach you how to do archery. It also won’t teach you how to gain the state of zen. It’s only mildly relevant if you’re already doing archery and have already experienced zen in some ways. Either way, the book is rather pointless. I would skip.

Why was I even listening to this

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.